Italian police have recovered three paintings by Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne, and Auguste Renoir, valued at over 10 million euros, which were stolen in March from a private museum near Parma.
The artworks were discovered during searches conducted by the Italian Carabinieri's art recovery squad, according to a statement released Friday. The investigation remains ongoing, with no specific details provided about the recovery process.
The recovered pieces include Cézanne's "Still Life with Cherries," valued at 6 million euros (approximately $7 million); Renoir's "Fish," worth 3 million euros ($3.5 million); and Matisse's "Odalisque on the Terrace," estimated at 20,000 euros ($23,000).
The heist occurred on the night of March 22-23 at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, located about 12 miles from Parma. Thieves reportedly forced entry and stole the paintings in under three minutes before escaping through the museum gardens. Local media reports suggest a well-organized group was responsible, with an alarm system interrupting the theft.
The Magnani Rocca Foundation, established in 1977, houses the collection of art historian Luigi Magnani and features works by artists such as Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Monet.
The theft follows a series of high-profile art heists in Europe, including the 88 million euro ($101 million) theft of French crown jewels from the Louvre in Paris in October.